Refilling an Offshore 103 Plastimo Binnical Compass

[DMYC]

Hi, My Offshore 103 Plastimo Binnical Compass has lost fluid resulting in a hals egge size void in the dome. I have opened every screw in the casing but the unit is sealed. At the bottom there is a sealed projection, which looks like the original fill point. The compass worked perfectly until the fluid loss. Are there any suggested ways to overcome this problem. Thank you.

 

[pvb]

Welcome to the forums!

There's no point refilling it unless you first find the leak and fix it. A compass repairer could help you.

 

[CFG98]

Appears you have found the filling point. As pvb points out knowing where the leak is useful. You could send it off (costing money) or fill it at the point you have found (after determining the correct fluid - quite easy) and seal that point and watch the compass in a hot place to see where the leak is and then seal that leak with some sealer. Bit pbo-like method of course.

 

[Refueler]

Usual Plastimo compasses are filled and then more 'dome' plastic used to seal - creating a single unrefillable unit ... trying to drill out usually cracks the plastic rendering the dome useless ... (I've tried it - even with extreme care and fine tipped glass cutting drills).

It is possible using a 'hot' metal rod to melt a hole through the fill point - but then you have problem to seal it back up .... plus of course the reason the fluid was lost is not solved.

 

[DMYC]

Welcome to the forums!

There's no point refilling it unless you first find the leak and fix it. A compass repairer could help you.

Thank you, I've fixed the leak and sice unearthed the filling screw [sealed over by Plastimo] and have used Lamp Oil + syringe to refill.
Seems to be working.

 

[DMYC]

Appears you have found the filling point. As pvb points out knowing where the leak is useful. You could send it off (costing money) or fill it at the point you have found (after determining the correct fluid - quite easy) and seal that point and watch the compass in a hot place to see where the leak is and then seal that leak with some sealer. Bit pbo-like method of course.

Thank you, I actually caused the leaks! I was fitting shock cord to the wooden collar on the binnical [to keep the cap in place] and dilled in too much on both sides! only discovered my mistake when the air bubble slowly appeared.
But al good now - thank you.

 

[Refueler]

Good news ... as I posted - Plastimo like many others - fills then seals over the filling point ......